NOMINATION: Work of the Year - Electroacoustic / Sound Art
The Electroacoustic / Sound Art category is for works which utilise and manipulate digital and/or analogue sound as the primary medium. The work may be interdisciplinary (incorporating more than one media). It may include, but is not limited to; sonic art, electronics, interactive work, generative music, environmental sound, installations, soundscapes, electroacoustic music, and intermedia works.
A work is defined as a single complete musical composition, or expression. This includes music with movements or sub-works (i.e. song cycles), installations, and real-time compositions (improvised music).
If you believe your work to be nominated in the wrong category or the details of your nomination to be incorrect, please contact the AMC via email at awards@australianmusiccentre.com.au before proceeding with the nomination.
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Nominee
Gabriella Smart
Title of the work
Parasymbiosis
Performer
Gabriella Smart (Electric Cristal, electronics), Kasper Toeplitz (bass, electronics) and Didier Casamitjana (percussion, electronics)
Performance Date
20/5/2024
Venue
Music Meeting Festival, NIjmegen, The Netherlands (world premiere)
Nominator Statement
I would like to nominate the electroacoustic work Parasymbiosis by Gabriella Smart for Work of the Year: Electroacoustic/Sound Art. This unique, multilayered 40 work incorporates ethereal electronic sounds to imagine sounds of the universe and the earth, contrasting elements that are inherently connected. The work is exquisitely crafted to convey a narrative that is omnipresent in contemporary society: the awe inspired by the natural world, and humanitys increasing disconnection to it.
The vastness of the universe is reflected in sounds made by the Electric Cristal (EC), a volatile instrument of glass rods encased in aluminium that was invented by Dylan Crismani (AUS) in 2019 and is tuned microtonally. At its foundation, the deep and fragile resonance of the EC is exploited to project soundscapes of primordial sounds. Parasymbiosis shows us that what we see in the dark sky is also reflected on earth; as such, sounds of humanity bells and horns, for example, are interspersed in a soundscape that is vast in dimensions. In this live performance at Music Meeting Festival on May 24, the three performers use different electronic mediums to manipulate their instruments, creating distinct sounds within the sonic landscape.
Parasymbiosis was commissioned by, and developed at Art Zoyd Studios (Valenciennes, France) in March 2023. The Electric Cristal is inspired by the Cristal Baschet, invented by the Baschet brothers in France in the 1950s. The Electric Cristal differs because it relies on amplified sounds and electronic effects, and it is tuned microtonally.
Parasymbiosis stands as a landmark in Gabriella Smarts distinguished career as a champion of new music and electroacoustic practice, demonstrating her unwavering commitment to innovation. The work not only expands the repertoire of electroacoustic music but also serves as a groundbreaking showcase for the Electric Cristalan instrument developed in collaboration with designer Dylan Crismani. By integrating this newly conceived microtonal instrument with electronic processing, Parasymbiosis redefines the intersection of acoustic and electronic sound, presenting a bold and immersive sonic experience. This work is a testament to Smarts ongoing exploration of uncharted musical territory, solidifying her position as a visionary in contemporary electroacoustic practice.
Nominee
Gabriella Smart
Title of the work
Parasymbiosis
Performer
Gabriella Smart (Electric Cristal, electronics), Kasper Toeplitz (bass, electronics) and Didier Casamitjana (percussion, electronics)
Performance Date
20/5/2024
Venue
Music Meeting Festival, NIjmegen, The Netherlands (world premiere)
The vastness of the universe is reflected in sounds made by the Electric Cristal (EC), a volatile instrument of glass rods encased in aluminium that was invented by Dylan Crismani (AUS) in 2019 and is tuned microtonally. At its foundation, the deep and fragile resonance of the EC is exploited to project soundscapes of primordial sounds. Parasymbiosis shows us that what we see in the dark sky is also reflected on earth; as such, sounds of humanity bells and horns, for example, are interspersed in a soundscape that is vast in dimensions. In this live performance at Music Meeting Festival on May 24, the three performers use different electronic mediums to manipulate their instruments, creating distinct sounds within the sonic landscape.
Parasymbiosis was commissioned by, and developed at Art Zoyd Studios (Valenciennes, France) in March 2023. The Electric Cristal is inspired by the Cristal Baschet, invented by the Baschet brothers in France in the 1950s. The Electric Cristal differs because it relies on amplified sounds and electronic effects, and it is tuned microtonally.
Parasymbiosis stands as a landmark in Gabriella Smarts distinguished career as a champion of new music and electroacoustic practice, demonstrating her unwavering commitment to innovation. The work not only expands the repertoire of electroacoustic music but also serves as a groundbreaking showcase for the Electric Cristalan instrument developed in collaboration with designer Dylan Crismani. By integrating this newly conceived microtonal instrument with electronic processing, Parasymbiosis redefines the intersection of acoustic and electronic sound, presenting a bold and immersive sonic experience. This work is a testament to Smarts ongoing exploration of uncharted musical territory, solidifying her position as a visionary in contemporary electroacoustic practice.